Patrolman involved in latest shooting was '09 officer of year

Police say suspect pulled gun; he's expected to survive

By CASEY MCNERTHNEY, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

Published 10:00 pm, Tuesday, December 7, 2010

The man who was shot by a Seattle policeman near Pioneer Square Tuesday night is expected to survive, and the officer who shot him was the 2009 officer of the year who is an expert on less-lethal force options.

Police said Wednesday night they still hadn't verified the identity of the suspect, who was struck once in the chest. But one of the names being investigated was that of a man who had been deported to Mexico in 2008 after a felony drug conviction more than a decade ago, according to a source familiar with the investigation. Police also say that man, in his 30s, has at least one misdemeanor conviction.

The incident happened shortly after 10 p.m. when officers responded to a 911 call about a man with a gun at a bus stop near Third Avenue and Yesler Way. Officers noticed a suspect matching a detailed description, and investigators said he walked away when officers approached.

The man refused commands to stop, police said.

An officer deployed a Taser and saw the suspect reach into his front waistband and grab what appeared to be a metallic object, according to investigators. The officer dropped his Taser, drew his gun and fired.

Officers provided first aid at the scene and called for medics. A Ruger .22 caliber pistol was recovered from the suspect's waistband, police said. It was not loaded.

No officers were injured during the incident.

Officer has strong history

Chris Myers, the officer identified by police sources as being the one who fired after trying to use a Taser on the suspect,

Officers also praised Myers on Wednesday, saying he's a skilled and dedicated policeman.

After the WTO protests, Myers became more involved with the Seattle police department's less-lethal force options and worked with other officers to create a series of presentations that were recognized by the National Institutes of Justice.

Myers, who also won the department's Medal of Valor in 2005, shared those skills with officers in Oregon in February 2009 and officers in Texas in April of that year. Myers has been recognized as an expert witness at both the state and federal levels for less-lethal options.

In September, he demonstrated a Taser for reporters during a presentation on the department's force and training. Because of his specialized rifle training, Myers has been at the scene of shootings before -- notably the 2005 federal courthouse shooting of a suicidal man with what was thought to be a live grenade. But before Tuesday's incident, Myers had not shot a suspect.

Seattle officer-involved shootings

The incident is the fifth officer-involved shooting in Seattle this year -- a number that's not especially higher than previous years.

In 2009, Seattle had the same number of officer-involved shootings, ending with the fatal confrontation involving Maurice Clemmons.

On Nov. 30, a man who police said was armed and suicidal was shot to death in a stolen car after he raised and lowered a .32 caliber revolver loaded with three live rounds.

Seattle's first officer-involved shooting this year happened Aug. 16, when Ariel Rosenfeld was killed at the Wedgwood QFC grocery store after he pulled a gun in a confrontation with officers. On Aug. 30, John T. Williams was killed by a two-year officer at Boren Avenue and Howell Street after police say he refused to drop a knife with a 3-inch blade.

That incident remains under investigation, and the officer who killed Williams, Ian Birk, was ordered to turn in his gun and badge.

On Feb. 28, Christopher Wright Sr. died after being hit by a police Taser. The suspect, who investigators say had tried to sexually assault a woman in an Aurora Avenue North motel, died from brain death and organ failure due to acute cocaine intoxication with excited delirium and physical restraint, according to the King County Medical Examiner. His manner of death was undetermined.

In addition to the fatal incidents, Thomas Qualls was shot by officers Sept. 3 after police say the suicidal man leveled an AK-47-style rifle at them. Qualls survived and has pleaded not guilty to three counts of assault with a firearm.